The kiss went on and on, and she didn't want it to end. Xavier knew how to kiss.
Suddenly, he pulled away, and she opened her eyes.
"I want a baby."
Out of everything she had heard him say, all the horrible names, the bluntness, she never anticipated him wanting a baby. It seemed completely outrageous.
"Why are you telling me?" she asked.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I want you to be the mother of my child."
She froze. Her lips tingled from his kiss, and she was just amazed at what he was asking.
"Is this really happening?" Anya had to be dreaming. Removing her hand from his chest-she didn't know how it got there-she pinched her arm, hard, and flinched. "Ouch."
"Yeah, this is really happening. Why wouldn't it be happening?"
"You're Xavier Leigh, and you've just asked me to be the mother of your child, and you kissed me." She was frowning, and it was the fastest way to get wrinkles.
"I've thought about it a lot."
"You had a woman here this morning, and you had sex with her!"
"Months ago. I haven't slept with Becky in a long time. She didn't like that I had lost my interest. She even tried to get me drunk to sleep with her."
"This is crazy."
"How about we finish up here, and I take you out to dinner, and we talk?"
Dinner? Talking?
"I guess."
"I promise you won't regret it."
Biting her lip, she looked into his dark brown eyes that always seemed so cold, but today they didn't. They were staring at her in earnest.
What could go wrong?
He wants to talk.
He's your boss.
Maybe you just heard wrong.
"Sure. If you continue to sign those papers, I'll get the envelopes and start getting them ready to send."
"Good, great." He moved behind the desk, and he was back to being in charge, in total control. For the next hour they worked on getting the letters finished, and once they were all done, she placed them in the appropriate tray.
By the time she grabbed her bag, he was there, jacket on, and ready.
Taking a deep breath, she followed him toward the elevator, and this time she couldn't help but stare at his reflection. He was a handsome man, she couldn't deny it.
"Do you like looking at me?" he asked.
"You're handsome, you know that already."
"I didn't know that you knew that."
She rolled her eyes. "Every woman knows what a catch you are. You're sexy, hot, and you know it. There's no need to do the whole coy thing."
"I'm not. I just think it's hot to know that you're in agreement with me."
Shaking her head, she snorted. "You're my boss, Xavier. I'm not going to point out these things. They're not appropriate."
"I just asked you to be the mother of my baby. I think we've crossed that line, and you can now see me as hot stuff."
Before she had a chance to answer, the elevator pinged open. "Saved."
"What was that?" he asked.
"Nothing. Don't you just love elevators?"
"I'm driving," he said, gripping her waist, and leading her away from her car, and taking her toward his.
"What about when all of this is over? I don't want to be stuck waiting for a ride," she said.
"You won't be. I'll take you home, and tomorrow morning I'll pick you back up, and take you to work."
She stared at the passenger door, hating how her stomach twisted. When colleagues hinted at her screwing the boss she'd ignored them. There was no chance of it. This was risking the rumors spreading once again, only this time, it could actually be the truth.
He wants a baby!
"I'm not going to hurt you, Anya. I want to have dinner, and talk about this."
Grabbing the door handle, she opened the door and climbed into his car. Xavier further surprised her as he leaned in and buckled her in. "I just want to make sure you're safe."
She smiled. "Okay."
The back of his hand brushed across her breasts, and she tensed up. Had it been on purpose? Was it a mistake? Sitting back in her seat, she did her best to ignore him as he climbed behind the wheel and started up his car. She glanced over at her own car, and tried her hardest not to pout.
Neither of them spoke as he drove through the busy city streets. Even at seven o'clock at night it was still busy. It was one of the downfalls of living in a city, the chaos. Living here was like living on constant speed.
"Today was a good day."
"Did your deal go well with Kurtis?" she asked.
"Yes. Of course it did. He just needs to learn some respect. I don't want you alone with him if he ever comes by the office."
"Why?"
"Don't trust him."
"I'm sure he'll be fine. You put him in his place." She had heard him growl at the man. Kurtis had looked so afraid. For a split second she had actually felt sorry for the man. Still, it was no excuse to be a pig of a man. Respect was something that was earned, and Kurtis hadn't earned hers. Either way, she wouldn't do anything to ruin the reputation of the company, or Xavier.
"I won't have him upsetting you. If I'm not there, stay at your desk, and don't bring yourself to be alone with him."
He sounded … strange.
"I'm going to still be working there then?"
"Why wouldn't you be?"
"The kiss. The whole baby thing. It's, erm, not exactly making for a stable working environment."
"Don't worry about that. I'd never fire you. Besides, I want to talk about it when I can look at you. Face to face conversation is always better than none."
"Sure." She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious about his little outburst. Xavier Leigh wanted a baby. It seemed surreal. If he said he wanted an extra billion, she would have understood a lot more.
They were silent on the drive to the restaurant. There was no need to be talking. Their silence wasn't awkward either. She liked that.
Resting against the leather seat, she watched the city go by, wondering what life would be like outside where everything was slower, more enjoyable.
He suddenly pulled outside of a busy Italian restaurant, and the door was opened for her. She smiled at the valet, used to Xavier's expensive taste. He liked quality in everything, food, service, wine, women. She gasped as he took her arm and led the way inside. This was really happening. They weren't on the way to meet prospective clients. This was between the two of them.
I can do this.
Anya looked ready to bolt at any minute, and he couldn't blame her. Xavier waved away the waiter, the maître d', and everyone that fawned all over him.
"This is where you bring your women, right?" she asked. "Wine them, dine them, bed them."
He sighed. "Yes."
"At least you're not blunt about it." She took a sip of her water, and he watched her throat work, wondering what it would be like to have his dick passing between those sweet fucking lips. His cock thickened at the thought.
"I don't believe in holding back. Nothing gets sorted in life if you're constantly waiting around."
"Then I suggest you tell me exactly what you want instead of lingering."
"Fine. I have everything in life. A successful company, cars, money, houses, plenty of time for vacations if I wish. I can have any woman that money can buy."
"You buy women?"
"What I've come to see is that in my world, my personal company comes with certain requirements. They fuck me, I have to give them nice things in return."
She sat back, eyes wide. "What happened to just the pleasure of company?"
"Get a lot of money, and it extends to a piece of jewelry, or even a few nights' stay in a luxury spa." He shrugged. "It's all just money."
"And it's cold."
"Even still. The one thing I don't have is an heir. Someone to hand my legacy down to. I worked my way from the gutter up, and I'm not going to do that to have it torn apart and sold. I want my own flesh and blood to take over."
"A baby."
"A baby, a son or a daughter, both even. Someone that I can nurture, and in time, I can give him or her the chances that I never got. They would be more than ready to take the lead of my company." He took a sip of his water. "None of the women I've been with are what I'm looking for in a mother. They are only there to serve their own goals. I want you. I think you'll be a perfect fit."
"Xavier, if I was to get pregnant with your child, I wouldn't leave it. I would want to be with him or her. It's not like a house that you can walk away from, and sell."
"You wouldn't have to worry. I'd hoped that you would be interested in staying around. I know you're a wonderful woman, kind, nurturing. I've seen the way you've been with the new starters in the office, and when others have no one to look after them, you make sure you're available to take care of their kids. I've seen you with children, and you're a natural. Your file states that you've never been in a serious relationship. There's no one now. You're free, available, and I know I like you."